The Washington Area’s "other" CCT: Fairfax Cross County Trail

[rcannon100]

Whose taking the picture?

[jabberwocky]

The northern sections are the most technical and MTBish. From Great Falls park down to Fairfax is 65% singletrack, with the remainder being mostly doubletrack or gravel (not a whole of pavement). From Fairfax on, the CCT is almost entirely gravel or paved. I’ve ridden it on both a cyclocross bike and a mountainbike. The CX bike is definitely faster overall, but less pleasurable on the offroad parts. I prefer the MTB (since I like the offroad parts) but its definitely slow on the long stretches of pavement (especially once you hit Jermantown rd heading south).

Overall its a fun ride. I like combining it with Lake Fairfax, Colvin Run and Great Falls/Riverbend to get 35 mile off road loops I can ride from my house.

[Dirt]

Jabberwocky stylin the best no-hands creek crossing EVAR

[DaveK]

South of… okay, I have no idea where anything is, but once you get to the Jermantown Rd section the CX bike is a great idea. North of there I would have rather had the suspension fork and better brakes as I’m not the best bike handler in the world. Still only took one nice quick nap in a ditch and tested out the consistency of some gravel another time. Great place to ride all around though. Next time I tackle the Reston section will be on the MTB. My hands are still tired from grabbing the brakes on some of those descents.

[Greenbelt]

What’s the best way to access the trail from Metrorail?

[rcannon100]

Vienna is directly on the CCT. Springfield Metro is near. You can metro to one end, and bike to the other metro stop. Vienna is also W&OD of course if that helps for connections.

[ShawnoftheDread]

It’s also a lightly travelled trail. Even on Saturday morning, when the W&OD was packed, I only saw one other bike and 6 or so peds between Little River Turnpike and the Vienna metro.

[RESTONTODC]

It looks like a perfect place to ride during the hot days. Dirt, where is this picture taken?

[Dirt]

@Greenbelt 24618 wrote:

What’s the best way to access the trail from Metrorail?

I can lead a loop from East or West Falls Church that hits the fun parts and comes back by pretty mellow roads and trails. Perhaps a late summer weekend ride. Might be fun to have a group ride through and check it out. Probably can’t happen until August though. I’m pretty stacked and packed for the next month.

Here’s what the loop would look like. http://ridewithgps.com/routes/1411961

[rcannon100]

I believe the pictures are from Wakefield, where the CCT nears the beltway, on the western border of the beltway. I very very good MBT park. Also has a skatepark.

[jabberwocky]

@RESTONTODC 24622 wrote:

It looks like a perfect place to ride during the hot days. Dirt, where is this picture taken?

The picture of me is on the section of the CCT just north of route 7 (near colvin run mill).

The picture of Kat is (I believe) from the section south of where it goes under 267, before reaching the W&OD.

[Dirt]

@jabberwocky 24626 wrote:

The picture of Kat is (I believe) from the section south of where it goes under 267, before reaching the W&OD.

The picture of Kat is actually from Springfield as we were getting closer to Lorton.

[jabberwocky]

@Dirt 24627 wrote:

The picture of Kat is actually from Springfield as we were getting closer to Lorton.

Oh, right. The concrete posts are on the wrong side for it to be the one I’m thinking of.

[Dirt]

@RESTONTODC 24622 wrote:

It looks like a perfect place to ride during the hot days. Dirt, where is this picture taken?

There are 3 or 4 creek crossings north of the W&OD, a few of which are quite refreshing. One actually makes an okay swimming hole.

There are 6 creek crossings between Lake Accotink Park and Lorton. Most of these are pretty shallow. Yesterday, when it was hot and the creek was not very full, most have less than an inch of water. They give you a nice, gentle spritzing. 2 of them are a little deeper… 6-8 inches deep for one, 4-6″ deep for another.

The southern end of the CCT has a lot more time when you’re out in the sun. That was extremely evident yesterday when it was over 100 degrees. The part from Jermantown Road north, is mostly in the woods and quite cool.

[KelOnWheels]

That looks exceedingly fun. One day, when I get a more road-like bike, I want to turn my mountain bike back into a mountain bike and learn to do mountain bike type things on it.

[Author]

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